Brother of man attacked by dogs says owners 'must be held accountable'

Naomi Nix and Kate ThayerTribune reporters

A day after a jogger was mauled by two pit bulls on South Shore Drive, his brother called for stiffer penalties for irresponsible dog owners.

“They must be held accountable,” Gregory Finley said of dog owners that leave their pets unattended. “These two dogs almost killed my brother.”

Finley spoke with reporters at Stroger Hospital, where his brother Joseph, 62, remained in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

Jimmy Johnson, 57, the owner of the two pit bulls that attacked Joseph Finley on Monday, was issued tickets for failing to restrain the dogs and not having city dog licenses, authorities said.

Johnson, of the 7600 block of South Coles Avenue, faces fines of $30 to $200 for failing to license each dog, and $300 up to $10,000 for failing to restrain each dog, according to Chicago Animal Care and Control.

He is scheduled to appear for an administrative court hearing in March.

Finley was attacked Monday about 6 a.m while jogging on a path near his home in Rainbow Beach Park. A neighbor ran to Finley’s aid but could not fight off the dogs with a baseball bat. Responding police officers shot and killed both dogs.

Joseph Finley often went out for early runs after his night shift at a hospital, his brother said.

Johnson’s neighbors said that Uno, a white dog with dark spots, was more aggressive than his companion, Bullet.

Ryan Jackson, 22, said Uno tried to bite her about three months ago when she was taking out the trash. “Right then and there I knew he was aggressive,” she said.

Cherie Travis, commissioner of Chicago Animal Care and Control, said the dogs' owner told her that someone had left the gate at his home open, allowing the dogs to escape.

“Somehow they got out of the yard,” said Travis.

The dogs’ owners have not previously been cited for any dog-related violations, said Travis.

“The owner and the owner’s family were extraordinary responsive,” Travis said. “The fact that they came forward says a lot of about their character.”